Officials Mark Finish of Two 91 Freeway Improvements

Projects add four miles of general-purpose lane, improved ramps, a bypass lane and extended auxiliary lane to improve traffic flow

IRVINE – The Orange County Transportation Authority and the California Department of Transportation, along with the cities of Anaheim and Fullerton, today marked the completion of two important Riverside Freeway (SR-91) improvement projects that will improve traffic flow and enhance safety on the freeway.

The two projects, which together cost approximately $105 million, improve conditions for the nearly 300,000 drivers who travel the 91freeway daily. They are a centerpiece of Measure M, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, and state funding from Prop. 1B.

“The 91 freeway is a vital link for the residents and businesses of Orange County and for so many people who use that corridor to get to work or to homes in the Inland Empire,” said OCTA Chair Lori Donchak. “These improvements ease commute times and help improve the quality of life for thousands of people. They are another example of how we’re putting Measure M funds to good use.”

OCTA worked closely with Caltrans and its construction partners to build the improvements to the 91 freeway. These two projects are the latest in a series of enhancements to SR-91 since 2010.

“Caltrans is delighted to work with OCTA and the cities of Orange County in delivering a total of 21 lanes miles along the SR-91 freeway to enhance the sustainability, livability, and economy of every driver that uses this corridor,” said Caltrans District Director Ryan Chamberlain. “We are committed to continuous improvements, saving commute times, and advancing commerce.”

The recently completed improvement projects include:

The SR-91 Auxiliary Lane Project, which extended an auxiliary lane at the freeway’s interchange with the northbound Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55) and added a bypass lane at Tustin Avenue. The cost of this project was approximately $41.9 million.

The SR-91 Westbound Lane Addition Project, which added four miles of new general purpose lane to the freeway between the Orange Freeway (SR-57) in Anaheim and the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) in Fullerton. The project also added an auxiliary lane and widened 10 ramps to get on and off the freeway. The cost of this project was approximately $62.9 million.

The improvements ease traffic congestion at a notorious chokepoint from the southbound SR-57 freeway to the westbound SR-91. It allows drivers to connect directly from SR-57 to I-5 without changing lanes on SR-91.

The westbound SR-91 freeway now includes a bypass lane at SR-55, four general-purpose lanes and one carpool lane.

The 91 freeway is a major corridor not only for local residents and commuters, but also for thousands of commercial trucks that travel from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to regional markets and to destinations throughout the nation.

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